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Michaelmas 2026: When Is It?
Searching "when is Michaelmas 2026"? Here is the exact date, what Michaelmas means in Catholic tradition, and how to celebrate the Feast of the Archangels in the United States.
Michaelmas 2026 is Tuesday, September 29, 2026. It is the traditional English name for the Catholic Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael — Archangels. Michaelmas is not a separate holy day from the archangels' feast; it is the same celebration, especially associated with St. Michael the Archangel. It is not a holy day of obligation in the United States.
Pray St. Michael's Lent Novena (46 Days — Free)
For the complete daily St. Michael's Lent novena — St. Michael Prayer, litany, consecration, and a page for every day from August 15 through September 29 — use Catholic Bible Online's dedicated guide:
Open St. Michael's Lent Novena on Catholic Bible OnlineWhen Is Michaelmas 2026?
Tuesday, September 29, 2026. The date is fixed every year on the Roman calendar — unlike Easter, Michaelmas does not move. In 2026 it falls on a weekday, so many American Catholics will celebrate at a weekday Mass or with private prayer at home if they cannot attend.
What Does "Michaelmas" Mean?
"Michaelmas" (pronounced MIC-uhl-mus) combines Michael + mass — the Mass of St. Michael — similar to how Christmas names Christ's Mass. In medieval England and Ireland it was one of the four quarter days when rents were paid and harvest accounts settled. American Catholics today use the term mainly in parish bulletins, school calendars, and traditional devotions.
Michaelmas vs. Feast of the Archangels
They are the same liturgical feast. The Church's official name is the Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels. "Michaelmas" emphasizes St. Michael; the full feast honors all three archangels named in Scripture. For a complete 2026 guide with prayers and Scripture, see our Feast of the Archangels 2026 guide.
How to Celebrate Michaelmas 2026
- Attend Mass on September 29 if your schedule allows.
- Pray the St. Michael Prayer morning and evening.
- Read Revelation 12:7–12 or Daniel 12 as a family.
- Ask St. Raphael's intercession for travel or healing needs.
- Honor Guardian Angels three days later on October 2.
Prayer to St. Michael
Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
Michaelmas 2026 and St. Michael's Lent
For many U.S. Catholics, Michaelmas 2026 is the finish line of St. Michael's Lent (August 15–September 29). If you have been praying the seasonal novena, plan Mass on September 29 and thank God for grace received. New to the season? Start with our St Michael's Lent 2026 hub and the daily prayer pages on Catholic Bible Online.
Customs: food, schools, and quarter days
Historically Michaelmas marked harvest accounts in Britain and Ireland. Some families still serve roast goose or blackberry desserts (folk tales say blackberries go bitter after Michaelmas). American Catholic schools may note the feast in September calendars. Keep customs light; prioritize Mass and the St. Michael Prayer over food nostalgia.
Scripture for Michaelmas 2026
- Daniel 10 & 12 — Michael as protector
- Jude 1:9 — Michael and the devil
- Revelation 12:7–9 — war in heaven
- Ephesians 6:10–18 — armor of God
After Michaelmas: Guardian Angels
Three days later, October 2 honors Guardian Angels. A simple September 29–October 2 trilogy — Archangels, then personal guardian — forms a short angelic devotion for families after St. Michael's Lent ends.